Three are jailed for horror copycat killing

Three people who subjected a vulnerable man to "sadistic" levels of torture similar to the horror series Resident Evil have each been jailed for life for his murder.

Derek Blake, 44, was found dead in a bath full of water in a flat in his hometown of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on May 24.

A pathologist found he had suffered 104 separate injuries and had been subjected to a "painful and humiliating" ordeal, Norwich Crown Court heard.

One of his killers later compared the alcohol-fuelled attack to Resident Evil, a graphic series of video games which has inspired five horror films.

The attack included pouring boiling water over Mr Blake, inflicting cuts and burns all over his body and torturing him with a pool cue.

The letter J had been carved into the side of his face.

Ricky Roys, 20, Andrew Brown, 42, and Helen Cooke, 19, all of St Nicholas Road, Great Yarmouth, pleaded guilty to the murder.

Judge Peter Jacobs sentenced all three to life imprisonment. Brown must serve a minimum of 23 years, Roys 20 and Cooke 18 before they will be considered for release.